DoFaSo in Yarker gives unwanted pianos new purposes

Dec 18, 2014

At a special holiday Christmas market at the Verona Lions hall on December 13, many of the Frontenac Farmers' Market's regular vendors gave their loyal customers a chance to get ahead on their holiday merry making.

Twenty-two vendors took part, including new market vendors, Bear Root Gardens who were selling packets of their own seeds, and Long Road Ecological Farm near Harrowsmith, who were selling their home made edibles including their sumptuous Chinese buns.

Market manager Debbie Harris, who is also a regular vendor, said that putting on the special Christmas market is beneficial both to vendors and their loyal following, which has grown steadily over the market's 10-year run. “People called us wanting to know when the Christmas market would be and this event gives customers a chance to stock up for Christmas.”

One notable newcomer to the market this year was Allison Storring, who along with her husband Mark da Silva recently launched their new piano upcycling business called DoFaSo in Yarker. The two are in the business of moving turn of the century upright and player pianos that people no longer want, but these days can't even seem to give away.

The couple bring new hope to these formerly popular salon instruments. They will move them (for a fee) and also upcycle them into useable accessories for the home and person. They had a number of their sample pieces on display in Verona, including some music back boards from a number of turn of the century upright pianos. One wooden beauty had a mirror inset and all of them can be used as the perfect backdrop on a mantlepiece, or as a decorative head board in a bedroom or as a large display shelf.

Samples of the stand alone front upright legs of these same pianos, made of solid wood and some exquisitely hand carved and shaped into attractive columns, are used as elegant free standing candles holders and Storring said that she and her husband also plan to make the legs into shelving units, benches, cornices and more.

Husband Mark, who was not in attendance at the show, is a musician and also works at Renaissance Music in Kingston. He knows a lot about upcycling old musical instruments; for years he recycled electronic tube organs for use as tube amps. “Mark soon realized that there was a market for older pianos, not only to have them removed from people's homes but also to create something new from their parts, which are often comprised of beautifully decorated solid wood. Our business not only prevents these pianos from ending up in landfills but preserves much of the intrinsic beauty that these older instruments possess,” Storring said. According to Storring many older pianos contain up to three pounds of lead but also copper, glass and steel, all of which is unwanted in landfill sites. The couple also sell attractive key chains made from either the Makasar or African ebony keys and Storring said that she also plans to market the pre-ban ivory keys and will also use them to make other items like jewelry.

While these pianos will no longer be making music in the parlor, in the hands of the owners of DoFaSo they will bring a different kind of art into their buyers' homes. For more information, call 613-331-3031 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. DoFaSo items are available at Starlet in Napanee and at Renaissance Music in Kingston.